STICKWOMEN DEFEAT CONNECTICUT, 2-1

Burke Goal Stuns Eighth-Ranked Huskies With One Minute Left in Double OT

With only a little over one minute remaining in the second overtime period, Harvard's Rachel Burke gave the Crimson stickwomen a 2-1 win over the eigth-ranked Connecticut Huskies yesterday in Storrs, Conn.

The Crimson (9-2-2 overall, 2-1-1 Ivy) had to dig and claw and hustle for its most satisfying victory of the season.

It was senior Loren Ambinder's pass which shot out of a mob of white and crimson jerseys, allowing the unattended Burke to beat Connecticut goaltender Yolanda Muntz and lift the elated Crimson to victory.

After nearly 90 minutes of end-to-end play in the brisk New England cold, it was a total team effort which edged the balanced Huskies (9-5-1).

The Crimson's first goal epitomizes the teamwork it took to beat the strong team in its own back-yard.

Ambinder picked a Connecticut middies pocket on the right side-line, beat another Huskie and fed Clark well into the offensive end. Clark then collected and crossed the ball, creating a corner opportunity.

On a textbook give-and-go off of the corner from Co-Captain Kristen Fowler--who had drawn the attention of the Huskies' defense with an earlier blast which had been called back--Francie Walton shuffled the ball to Becky Gaffney, who back-handed the ball into the net, giving the Crimson a 1-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the first half.

With a little more than 15 minutes left in the contest, Connecticut tied the game when Colleen Carney knocked a tough-angled shot passed an extended Lisa Yadao.

Hold that Huskie

The game's momentum clearly shifted into the Huskies' favor, but the Crimson was able to hold the surging squad at bay.

"We were poised and kept stopping their attack," Clark said. "We were patient and it finally worked for us."

The defense staved off the potent Connecticut attack, disrupted the execution of its penalty corners and consistently cleared the ball effectively. Backs Amy Belisle, Tina Lawler, Buxton and Walton were all in top form.

"Their poor play in our end was due to the constant pressure we had on their forwards," Caples said. "Our corner defense really threw them off."